APSC cash-for-job scam: Former chairman awarded 14 years in jail, Rs 2 lakh penalty

The Court of Special Judge at Guwahati today pronounced the verdict for convicts in the APSC cash-for-job scam where the Assam Public Service Commission's former chairman, Rakesh Paul, has been awarded 14 years of imprisonment and a Rs. 2 lakh penalty.

Also, former APSC members Basanta Kumar Doley and Samedur Rahman have been sentenced to 10-year jail terms. Furthermore, 29 candidates who paid for jobs to get Agricultural Development Officer (ADO) jobs in 2014 have been awarded 4 years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10,000.



32 people, including the Assam Public Service Commission's former chairman, Rakesh Paul, two of its members, and 29 candidates were convicted by the court July 22. The hearing on the sentence concluded on July 22. The judge had not pronounced the quantum of the sentence of the convicted persons.

Assam Director General of police, G P Singh stated in X, “ Reference Bhangagarh P.S. Case No. 159/2017 u/s 120(B)/420/468 of IPC R/w Section 7/13(1) (a) (d) (III)/ 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act dated 17/08/2017 regarding irregularities in conduct of ADO Examination by APSC."

"@assampolice Hq compliments the hard meticulous work done by the Investigation officers and their teams, the supervisory officers, the Government Prosecutors for diligently putting forth the prosecution narrative leading to the conviction. We remain committed to fight corruption and criminal misdemeanour in Government recruitments in Assam. The IO of the Case was ACP Dispur Sujit Saikia (since deceased) and Subhasish Baruah, presently SP Biswanath, who took up investigation of the case from 09/08/2018 when he was posted as ADCP, Central. After investigation, the IO filed Charge Sheet No. 78/2017 dated 09/10/2017, Supplementary CS -01 on 12/07/2018, Supplementary CS -02 submitted on 26/10/2018, Supplementary CS -03 on 17/11/2018, Supplementary CS -04 on 04/07/2019, Supplementary CS -05 on 06/01/2020. 1. Total accused- 44 2. Member 4 3. APSC employee- 1 4. Middleman-3 5. Total accused candidates- 36 http://6.Total Acquitted - 11 http://7.Total convicted - 32 8.Approver - 01 The Convicted include three members of APSC 1. Rakesh kr paul 2. Basanta kr Doley 3. Samedur Rahman, while the fourth member turned Approver. The pictures of the two illustrious IOs who deserve huge appreciation,” he added.


Special Judge Dipankar Thakuria on July 22 acquitted 11 others in connection with the case filed with the Bhangagarh police station here in 2017 for lack of evidence, while one person turned approver.


The judge was yet to announce the quantum of the sentence of the convicted persons.

Paul, along with the other members and officials of the APSC, were arrested for a cash-for-jobs case related to the Combined Competitive Examinations (CCE) for the recruitment of civil, police and other service officials.

Paul was arrested by Dibrugarh Police in November 2016 and released on bail in March 2023.